GPD: Inmates beat detainee Justin Meno

Detainee Justin Meno remained in critical condition on Friday, March 31, two days after undergoing surgery for injuries sustained at the Department of Corrections Mangilao facility, DOC officials said.
Jerick Sablan/PDN

Police did not indicate if anyone had been arrested. The case is still open and under investigation.

The prison launched their own internal affairs investigation into the incident and four officers were disciplined as a result.

Two officers were suspended. Another officer, Benjamin Urquizu, was fired. A fourth officer, Lt. Maryhelen Santos Lizama, was issued a letter of reprimand.

Urquizu and Lizama both appealed to the Civil Service Commission.

Lizama was the platoon commander of the maximum security unit the day of the incident, according to DOC internal affairs documents filed with the CSC.

She failed to secure the crime scene in that unit and did not preserve evidence knowing that a crime had just occurred, acting Director Kate Baltazar wrote in Lizama’s letter of reprimand.

Lizama wrote to prison officials in a May 9 letter and said she instructed an officer to bag broken mop sticks and clothing on the ground but did not tell anyone to dispose of the bag.

“I did not see any crime that was committed and only (sic) that I only observed Detainee Justin Meno was injured and my main concern was that Central Control contact 911 for any ambulance due to Detainee Meno was injured,” Lizama wrote.

Lizama also said that she took a photo of Meno to assist with her reports. Lizama wrote that she felt she and other officers on duty acted in good faith. Lt. Lizama wrote that it was her first experience with an inmate that had multiple injuries. Internal Affairs documents note Lizama has been with DOC for 27 years.